KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court has stated at least 10 years of experience after completing Bachelor’s Degree in the related subject as the mandatory minimum criteria to entertain a government appointment.

A division bench of Justices Ishwar Prasad Khatiwada and Nahakul Subedi passed the order in a writ petition filed by Advocate Jay Prasad Poudel on behalf of the Consumer Rights Protection Forum against the appointment of an expert director of the Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC).

The Forum had reached the Court on January 24, 2021 raising the issue of eligibility of Sahadev Bogati, who was appointed as an expert member of the NOC.

The forum had filed a writ petition seeking revocation of Bogati’s appointment as his educational qualification was only up to SLC level.

The writ petition was debated by Sushil Pant, Jyoti Bania, Bishnu Prasad Timilsina and Jay Prasad Poudel on behalf of the forum, Sanjeev Raj Regmi on behalf of the government, and Mamata Maharjan and Dilli Adhikari on behalf of NOC.

After hearing the debate between the two sides, the bench of Justices Khatiwada and Subedi directed the government to regard Bachelor’s Degree plus minimum 10 years work experience for the purpose of immediate appointment or nomination until the legal provision is made as per the directive.